Cashing In

[Max7857]

So Bigham Jewelers in Naples, FL recently lost their AD status. I’ve noticed on their website under used Rolex that they have 80+ available for sale and over half have 2024 cards. When they were an AD their used inventory was generally around 12-20. My AD explained to me that when an AD is dropped all remaining inventory warranty starts on the day they lose authorized status. In effect making them “used”

If in fact these are “new but used” do you think it is fair to be selling them at grey market pricing. I’m sure many loyal customers were denied these pieces as unavailable while they were still an AD. If they were going to cash in would it have been better to bundle them and sell to a true grey market dealer rather than retail to their customers. Curious what others think.

[PepsiBezel]

They lost their AD status… it’s business, and it’s the fair market price. They have no reason to be beholden to Rolex MSRP.

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by Max7857

So Bigham Jewelers in Naples, FL recently lost their AD status. I’ve noticed on their website under used Rolex that they have 80+ available for sale and over half have 2024 cards. When they were an AD their used inventory was generally around 12-20. My AD explained to me that when an AD is dropped all remaining inventory warranty starts on the day they lose authorized status. In effect making them “used”

If in fact these are “new but used” do you think it is fair to be selling them at grey market pricing. I’m sure many loyal customers were denied these pieces as unavailable while they were still an AD. If they were going to cash in would it have been better to bundle them and sell to a true grey market dealer rather than retail to their customers. Curious what others think.

All is fair in love, war and luxury watch sales

[brandrea]

I get your point OP, but since they’ve parted ways, alls fair as they say

[SLWoodster]

Sorry to everyone who put their money and time to build a relationship there.

Rolex isn't trying to be fair and definitely not the ADs.

I would like Rolex to have stopped increasing their retail price 30 years ago and all ADs to continue their discounting so I can get a daytona for $500.

But life ain't fair. LOL

Originally Posted by Max7857

So Bigham Jewelers in Naples, FL recently lost their AD status. I’ve noticed on their website under used Rolex that they have 80+ available for sale and over half have 2024 cards. When they were an AD their used inventory was generally around 12-20. My AD explained to me that when an AD is dropped all remaining inventory warranty starts on the day they lose authorized status. In effect making them “used”

If in fact these are “new but used” do you think it is fair to be selling them at grey market pricing. I’m sure many loyal customers were denied these pieces as unavailable while they were still an AD. If they were going to cash in would it have been better to bundle them and sell to a true grey market dealer rather than retail to their customers. Curious what others think.

[Robison347]

That’s an interesting twist. If I were a dealer, and Rolex took away my franchise, I would surely sell my remaining stock at market, not at the price Rolex dictated in all the years I was beholden to them.

In today’s market, not all Rolex dealer stock is going to be worth more than MSRP. I’d certainly do the best I could with all of it, though, as the end of my time with the brand, and see how those sales went as I made a plan to regroup.

[Max7857]

Originally Posted by Robison347

That’s an interesting twist. If I were a dealer, and Rolex took away my franchise, I would surely sell my remaining stock at market, not at the price Rolex dictated in all the years I was beholden to them.

In today’s market, not all Rolex dealer stock is going to be worth more than MSRP. I’d certainly do the best I could with all of it, though, as the end of my time with the brand, and see how those sales went as I made a plan to regroup.

I don’t necessarily disagree. My point was that in the days/weeks before losing status customers wanting those particular watches must have been lied to saying they were unavailable. I think they should have sold them all to a “real grey market” dealer or waited a little while to retail making it less obvious what they were doing.

Many on this forum are quick to give flippers a hard time and in a sense that is what they are doing. I’m sure if this store had caught a customer flipping they would cut them off and give a lecture. Yet that is what they are doing. To be fair a few of the watches like the Air King are listed at Rolex suggested retail.

[mpkRolex]

They are now technically gray and will sell those as a grey wolf


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[Onequik135i]

Just checked their pre owned Rlx inventory, very high priced. All their vintage including service dial pieces.

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by PepsiBezel

They lost their AD status… it’s business, and it’s the fair market price. They have no reason to be beholden to Rolex MSRP.

This.

[Rolexatlast]

I don’t quite follow your question…

Originally Posted by Max7857

If in fact these are “new but used” do you think it is fair to be selling them at grey market pricing. I’m sure many loyal customers were denied these pieces as unavailable while they were still an AD. If they were going to cash in would it have been better to bundle them and sell to a true grey market dealer rather than retail to their customers. Curious what others think.

If you object to the AD selling them at market price, why do you suggest it would be better to sell them to a grey dealer?

Are you upset that a former AD is cashing in, rather than a grey being able to cash in?

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Of all the injustices in the world this isn’t one of them. Unless you consider capitalism an injustice.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Max7857

So Bigham Jewelers in Naples, FL recently lost their AD status. I’ve noticed on their website under used Rolex that they have 80+ available for sale and over half have 2024 cards. When they were an AD their used inventory was generally around 12-20. My AD explained to me that when an AD is dropped all remaining inventory warranty starts on the day they lose authorized status. In effect making them “used”



If in fact these are “new but used” do you think it is fair to be selling them at grey market pricing. I’m sure many loyal customers were denied these pieces as unavailable while they were still an AD. If they were going to cash in would it have been better to bundle them and sell to a true grey market dealer rather than retail to their customers. Curious what others think.

I think Rolex knows what bad dealers do when that many watches ship and so many never activate a card (if that's what Brigham did).



A local AD here did the same thing and when one of the partners retired, I learned they were doing the same thing.



Shoddy is what I think.

[Max7857]

Originally Posted by Rolexatlast

I don’t quite follow your question…



If you object to the AD selling them at market price, why do you suggest it would be better to sell them to a grey dealer?

Are you upset that a former AD is cashing in, rather than a grey being able to cash in?

My beef is that many of the watches for sale are hard to get like the Batman, Sprite, and olive dial DD. When an AD they tell customers they are unavailable and that they will put on list etc. I find it hard to believe that if they called people on the list while still an AD that the watches would now be available as used. I am fine with them making all the profit they want but what do they tell the customer that has been on a list for a year that now sees a new watch that had to be in inventory while an AD selling used for double. Just doesn’t appear ethical to the customer that really believed a list existed. By the store selling to a grey they still make extra profit but possibly avoid alienating past customers who requested the watch while the store was still an AD and had the inventory in stock but refusing to sell.